The combination of a new wetsuit, strong wind/high chop and starting out too quickly made for a looooong swim ... I just plain blew-up.

The constriction of the wetsuit made getting a full breath nearly impossible. The chop of the waves made it difficult to get in air w/out swallowing a mouthful of lake water. Add to that the adrenaline of a race start. Mix together with inexperience and you get a guy who was grateful that there was an island to swim around ... because you could stand to catch your breath.

My training partner was having similar problems breathing. At one point I saw him with just 1/4 of the swim left to go, signaling for the boat to pluck him out of the water. I somehow managed to reach him first and saw that his neck and face were beet red from exertion + difficulty breathing.

The boat threw him a floatation device at the end of a rope. While catching his breath, I talked him into finishing the swim so that we could get on solid ground. He reluctantly agreed, let go of the float and we swam the remaining distance together.

NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY!

I had talked my buddy into trying out these rental Xterra full wetsuits from Fleet Feet for this race ... despite not training with them.

Nothing against the wetsuits, but they take some time getting used to ... time other than on race day!

Luckily, purchasing more than a few beers was able to win forgiveness of a bad idea!

Short jog across the beach + up a hill over wet grass ... slipped a couple times in what would be the beginning of 'grace in motion' manuevers.

Provided a good deal of spectator entertainment trying to get that @#$% wetsuit off.

Bodyglide and Pam!

Each time I'd crest a hill on the way back, I'd think that was 'the big one' ... only to find that there was more to come.

Lost my gels on the downhill as my new Sugoi one piece tri-suit pockets could hold little more than individual Skittles.

At this point, I was thinking that sleeping in that morning would have been the wisest course of action.

Pushed it as hard as I could in trying to make up for a lot of lost time ... but was able to pace myself for evenly split miles.

It was super-Africa hot + muggy by then - temperature had increased by some 15* in the hour and a half since starting the race. Did not eat properly and, more importantly, hydrate well enough ... that was evident by the near collapse at the finish line.

Guzzling water + eating oranges.


swimming


Good race that is put on by a triathlon club ... so while it had some kinks, it definitely had that 'club feel' and enthusiasm.

GREAT bunch of people to race with.